Music box element



Aug. 9, 1949 l. STEIN MUSIC BOX ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4,1946 INVENTOR. /RV//VG STE/N I/MQQMMZZA- A 7' TO/QNEVS Patented Aug. 91949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in music box elements and has foran object the provision of a musical element having a plurality of armsof substantially the same radius extending radially from a centralportion, the angular spacings of these arms being disposed in accordancewith the musical intervals of the piece represented by said movement,the tonal length of said arms being defined by the positions of the websof the central body joining said arms.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a music box elementof the character described of a central hole through said body, thecenter of which is equi-distant from the tips of all of the tonal arms,and the provision of means to cause a pickup to move over the ends ofsaid arms and strum or pluck them, thereby producing musical notes inaccordance with the tonal lengths of said arms and in intervals inaccordance with the angular spacing of the arms.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality ofelements of the character described spaced apart on a common axis, theprovision of rotatable means adapted to strum or pluck the arms in oneof said elements, and means for positioning said means for strumming orplucking into association with another of said elements when it isdesired to play another tune.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality ofelements of the character described spaced axially apart from oneanother, and the provision of rotatable means for strumming or pluckingthe arms of said elements conjointly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon a study of the specification, and theaccompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my new and improved musical element;

Figure 1a is a fragmentary enlarged view of one of my radial tone arms;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one means of strumming or plucking the radialtone arms of my musical element;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a music box showing one of myelements mounted on a soundboard, and showing mechanism for plucking orstrumming the radial arms thereof;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing two of my musical elementsmounted on a soundboard and showing a plucking or strumming arm actingon both elements conjointly;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing two of my musical elementsmounted on a soundboard and showing mechanism for plucking or strummingthe radial arms of one of the elements, said means being adapted to beshifted so that its strumming or plucking element engages the radialarms of the other element;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section, showing means forretaining the arm carrying the plucking or strumming member in eitherone of two positions; and

Figure 7 is a View taken along the lines 1-! of Figure 5, showing myshifting yoke for shifting the plucking arm.

My new and improved musical element, generally designated by the numeral[0, consists of a center or solid web H having a, central hole l2 formedtherein, and formed integral with the web I I is a plurality of radialarms 13. The outer end of all of these arms are equidistant from thecenter of the hole l2 formed in the web II, and each radial arm has itstrailing corner removed and presenting a round surface such as thesurface M so that when a plucking or strumming member l5 engages thetone arm, moving in the direction of the arrow, Figure lot, it firstencounters the rounded surface l4, and as it leaves the radial tone armit flips off of the corner I6, leaving the tone arm [3 free to vibratein accordance with its tonal length.

It will be noted that some of the tone arms l3 are substantially longerthan the others; for example, the tone arm 13a is substantially longerthan the tone arm I32), and others, for example [30 and [3d, are oflengths intermediate the lengths Na and i329. On the longest arm [3a itwill be noted that the web H is out back so as to give the arm l3agreater length, while with the arm 1312 it will be noted that the web Il is not cut back so far and, therefore, the tonal length of [3b issubstantially less than the tonal lengths of 13a. The tone arm 13b willvibrate at a higher pitch than the arm I3a. Thus it will be seen that bycutting away the web II to a greater or lesser extent, I am able to formtone arms of any desired tonal value.

The intervals between the radial tone arms are formed in accordance withthe intervals of the piece of music which the element is to play.

Since one object of the invention is to carry the plucking or strummingmember of a radial arm rotating at a constant speed about a shaftconcentric with the center of the hole I2, the intervals are taken careof by the angular displacement of the radial tone arms. For example, theangular relation 11 between the tone arms l3,

'tegral'with the shaft 49.

and He, is substantially greater than the angular interval 18 betweenthe tone arm I3e and the tone arm I31. Thus I am able to take care ofwhole notes, half notes, quarter notes, one-eighth notes, et cetera, andall values of rests. For example, the musical element shown in Figure 1has its radial tone arms of such lengths and spaced in such intervalsthat it plays Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. Qbviously any piece ofmusic may be embodied in themusical element by making the tone lengthsof the arms and the intervals in accordance with the piece of musicdesired. The musical element l may haye holes l9 formed therein throughwhich mounting screws, such as the screws 20, shown in Figure 2, maypass through mounting blocks 2| and 22, and engage correspondinglythreaded holes in a securing block 23 positioned beneath thesoundingboard 24. When the musical element!!! i thus mounted, thevibrations of the radial tone arms 'aresubstaritially amplified bythesoundingboard 24. I

The plucking orstrummingmember I may consist of a thinsprin'gy memberformed of thin metal, fibre, or any, other suitable material, and may besecured to the flat surface of an angular portion 25 of'a radial arm 26by means of screws The arm 2B'is secured to a stub shaft '28, and atthe'upper end this shaft isprovided with a conical hole 29. The stubshaft28 is journaled in a suitable bushing 30.whic h extends. throughthe blocks 2|, the musical element ill, the block 22, the soundingboard24,,and the block 23. The shaft 28 ,isshouldered, and "a nut'3i,engaging the threaded end 32 thereof, clampsa washer 33 against saidshoulder so that .the arm '26 may be rotated about the stub shaft28 asan axis, and the'axis of the shaft 28 coincides with the axis of thehole I2 formed in the musical element I0.

vvSince the plucking or strumming member [5 must first encounter thecurved surface l4 on the radial tone arms, it is necessary that it berotated 'in one direction only, and this is in a counter-clockwisedirection as shown by the arrowlin Figure 2.

The soundingboard is mounted in a" box ortcasing which has side walls'34'and '35, an end wall 36, an opposite end wall not shown, a bottomwall 31, and a top wall 38. The soundingbdard is fixed in the casing bymeans of screws "such as the screws 39. The top wall 38 is secured tothe rest of the casing by means "of screwsf40. Secured to the top wall38 'isa boss 4I'havin'g lugs '42 and 43 formed integral therewith whichare secured to the top'plate 38 by meansfof screws 44', and nuts 45. Theboss 4| has a conical" hole 46 formed therein which is in alignment withthe conicalhole'ZS. ThebossM'has ajdepending lug .41 with a bearing 48therein in which a shaft 49'is journale'd. A lug 50 secured tothe wall36, by means of screws 5|, has a bearing '52 formed therein in which theshaft '49 'is "also journaled, the bearings 48'and 52 beingin'alignment. 3 v

' A crank 53 has a hub'54 whichfits on the outer end of the shaft 49andis secured thito'by means of a set screw 55. Secured'to the shaftf49adjacent to the depending lug '41is" a worm' 56 which may either besecured'toorformed'in- V A 'vertical shaft 51 has both ends conica1,'and itslower end; engages the conical hole 29, and its 'upper'endengages the conical hole l li.

'A Warm gear 58 is mounted orfthe sh'aft 51,

and a pin 59 passes through its hub 60 and the shaft 51. A radial arm 6|has a hub 62 which is pinned to the shaft 51 by means of a pin 63. Theworm 56 meshes with the worm gear 58 so that as a crank 53 is turned theshaft 49 is rotated, and the shaft 51 and'the arm 6| carried thereby isrotated S10W1y about the aXis of the shaft 51.

An inclined leaf spring; 54 is secured to the arm 6| by means of"screws. 65, and is so positioned that its lower end 64a bears againstthe side of the arm 25 so that if the crank 53 is rotated in the properdirection the arm 6| will move in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Figure same; when the shaft 57 makes almost a completerevolution the end 6411 of the leaf spring will ratchet over the arm '25without driving it, therefore, the musical element lilcannotbedamaged byrotating the crank in the wrong direc- L tion.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, musical element It, and musicalelement llla are'mounted concentrically between blocks '65, '65,.and 61,and these blocks are secured to a soundingboard 58 witha fourth block 59therebelow. Theradial tone arms of the'element Iii may constitute thesoprano or melody of apiece of music, and'th'e' radial tone arms of themusical element l'llarnay represent the alto of the same pieceof'mus'ic.

The plucking or strumming memberfl5dmay traverse the radial tone arms ofthe musical element l6 anda second plucking, or strumming member 151)may traverse the radial tone'arins of the musical element Illa. Theplucking'or strummingfmembers l5a and [512 may be's'ecured to an arm25a, and this arm maybe driven i n one direction by a leaf spring m ember similar to that shown inFigures 2 and 3, and carried on a shaft"5m, similar to the shaft '51. Sinceithe mechanism for moving the arm inone direction only is fully described in connection with Figures 2 and3, it is believed that this description need not be repeated. Obviouslyany number of musical elements may be grouped in the manner described.For example, aquartet would be reproduced byfoursuch musical elements.

In the arrangement sh'ownin'Figures5,6,-'and 7, -I employ a plurality ofmusical'eleinents and provide means for selectivelyplaying any'on'eofthem.

Referring to said figuresmusicahelementsfliib and lic'i'are mounted on'asoundingboard 10 with blocks in, 12, '73, and '54. The upper block 'llcarries a metal insert 15 having a' c 0nicalhole15 formedtherein.

Secured to the to'p'tta of they casing is'a boss 4 E a similar tothe'boss 4 5 which has 'a "ethical hole ll formed therein. i 'shaftl8"'isassumed to be driven by am'otor, not shown, and'consequent- 1yrotatesin the "proper-direction. "Secured to the shaft "38 is aIworm'this worm" meshes with a worm gear'ftithavingahub?!lsecuiie to a 'shaft"82 "by meansbfa pin83. The "shaft" 82 5 has conical ends bearing in theconical holes 16' and TI.

An arm 84 carrying a plucking or strumming member 85, which is securedthereto by screws 86, has a hub 8'! which is journaled on the shaft 82and is positioned between the hub 8| of the worm gear 80, and a shoulder88 formed on the shaft 82. The distance between the shoulder 88 and thehub 81 is equal to the center spacing of the musical elements I01) and100, so that when the arm 84 is in its lower position the plucking orstrumming member 85 engages the radial tone arms of the lower musicalelement I and when the hub 81 is moved upwardly in contact with the hub81 of the gear 80, the plucking or strumming member 85 is in engagementwith the radial tone arms of the musical element 101).

The hub 81 has formed integral therewith a portion 89 of largerdiameter, and the portion 89 has a groove 90 formed therein. The hub 81also has a keyway 9i formed therein and a key 92 in the shaft 82 drivesthe hub 81 leaving it free to be positioned in either one of thepositions described above. The hub 81, as may be best seen in Figure 6,has a radial hole 93 formed therein and this hole is counterbored andthreaded at 94. A plug 95 engages the threaded hole 94 and bears againstone end of a helical spring 98; the other end of the spring 96 bearsagainst a plug 91 slidably mounted in the hole 93. Th plug 9'! has a tip98 of smaller diameter which extends through a smaller hole formed atthe bottom of the hole 93 and engages a depression 99 formed in theshaft 82. When the plug tip 98 engages the depression 99 the arm 84 isin the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5, and is against theshoulder 88 formed on the shaft 82 so that the plucking or strummingmember 85 traverses the radial arms of the musical element I00.

A second depression I00, spaced apart from the depression 99, is formedin the shaft 82. This depression is so spaced from the depression 99that when the tip 98 of the plug member engages it the plucking orstrumming member 85 is in position to engage the radial tone arms of themusical element liib.

For selectively positioning the plucking or strumming element 85 inengagement with one or the other of the musical elements, I employ ayoke Hll which engages the groove 90 formed in the hub 81, and this yokeis secured to a vertical shaft H32 by means of a pin I03. The verticalshaft extends upwardly through a bearing hole in a bushing I64 securedto the top member 38a of the casing and may carry on its upper end aball or knob Hi outside of the top member 38a.

The device of Figures 5, 6, and 7, when in the position shown in solidlines, will play the lower musical element llic. Now when the knob I05is grasped and pulled upwardly, the arm 84 is shifted to the dot-dashposition, and the plucking or strumming element carried thereby is inposition to play the musical element lllb.

Due to the fact that my new and improved musical elements employ angularspacing of the tone arms in accordance with the musical intervals, anddue to the fact that I can obtain different tone arm lengths by varyingthe solid central web, I am enabled to produce duplicates in quantity ofany desired pieces of music by making dies (one die for each given pieceof music) and stamping out these musical elements in mass production andfind that the corresponding tone arms on each member so produced issubstantially the same tonal length, and. consequently produces the samenote. Therefore, tuning the tone arms after the punching operation isunnecessary. Therefore, I believe I am the first to produce musicalelements of the character described herein adapted to be produced inmass production, and although the musical element is herein described inconnection with music boxes, I intend to use it not only in makingboxes, but in connection with any device in which a series of musicalnotes is actuated.

While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples,such examples are illustrative and are not given as limitations, sinceother modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Hence, the invention is to beunderstood as limited only as indicated, in the appended claims, inwhich the intent is to set forth all the novelty over the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A musical element formed of a disc of vibratable material, said dischaving a center, a plurality of radial arms or reeds the outerextremities of which are equi-clistant from said center, said arms beingangularly disposed about said center in accordance with the musicalintervals, and of varying lengths from said extremities inwardly, inaccordance with the tones which the arms are to produce.

2. A musical element formed of a disc of vibratable material, said dischaving a center, a plurality of radial arms or reeds formed integraltherewith, the outer extremities of said reeds being equidistant fromsaid center, said reeds being angularly disposed about said center inaccordance with the musical intervals desired and of varying lengthsfrom the extremities inwardly in accordance with the tones the reeds areto produce.

3. In a musical element, a thin body or web having a plurality ofintegral radial tone arms extending therefrom and having their outerextremities terminating on a line, the lengths of said arms from saidline to said body being varied in accordance with the pitch at whicheach arm is to vibrate, said arms being spaced apart from each other inaccordance with the musical intervals desired, and a member for pluckingsaid arms arranged to move along said line.

4. In a musical element, a body having a plurality of radial tone armsextending therefrom, said arms having their extremities terminating on acircular line the center of which falls Within said body, the lengths ofsaid arms from said line to said body, being varied in accordance withthe pitch at which each arm is to vibrate.

5. In a musical element of the character described, a body having aplurality of radial tone arms extending therefrom, the outer extremitiesof said arms terminating on a circular line the center of which lieswithin said body, the radial spacing of said arms being in accordancewith the musical intervals of the music to be reproduced, and the tonallengths of said arms from said line to said body, being varied inaccordance with the sequential pitches at which said arms are tovibrate.

6. The invention according to claim 5, in which said element is securedto a sounding board, and in which an actuating arm is mounted forrotation about said center as an axis and carries a flexible pickpositioned thereon for sequentially engaging and releasing theextremities of said arms to cause them to vibrate in the plane of saidbody.

cameos.-

lihe invention ac'cord-ing'to'claim 6, in which" corresponding outercorners of said radial tone arms are rounded and in which said pick isangularl'y disposed on said actuating arm "whereby it fir'stengages therounded edge on each tone arm as said actuating arm-is rotated in apredeten-mined direction. a

B. In a musical device, a soundingboard, a plurality of musical elementsmounted on said soundingboard with spacers therebetween, each of saidmusical elements being comprised of a thin may having radial arms orreeds formed in tegral therewith and having their outer extremities.terminating on a circle, the center of which is: substantially thecenter of said body,.a radial actuator arm having its end offset andadapted to be rotated about an axis coinciding with the centers of.said. musical elements, and a plucking or strumming member of a width tospan all of said elements secured to theofiset portion of said actuatorarm and adapted to pluck or strum the radial arms on all said elements.

9-. musical device, a musical element comprised of a thin body havingradial arms or reeds formed integral therewith and having their outerextremities terminating on a circle, the center of which issubstantially the center of said body, corresponding corners of theextremities of said reeds being rounded, an operation arm adapted torotate about a center coinciding with the center of said-element, saidoperation arm having its outer end oiiset angular with respect to itsradius, a plucking -or strumming member secured to said ofiset portion,whereby said operation arm may be rotated in a direction in which saidrounded portions of said extremities are first encountered bysaidplucking or strumming mem- 10. In a musical device, a soundingboard, aplurality of musical elements, said elements being comprised of thinbodies each having radial arms "or reeds formed integral therewith andhaving the outer extremities of said reeds terminating on a circle, thecenter of which is substantial-ly the center of said body, said elementsbeing stacked with spacers therebetween on and rigidly secured to saidsoundingboard, said elements having their axes coinciding, an actuatorarm rotatable about a center coinciding with said axes and havin itsouter end offset, a plucking orstrumming member adapted to engage theradial arms an one of said elements, means to rotate said actuator arm,and means for selectively 8 positioning actuainr with said plucking orstrumming member in alignment with any one of said elements.

11-. The invention "according'to claim 10, in which said arm is slidablykeyed to a rotatable shaft and in which registry means partly on saidshaft and partly on said arm engage and effect positive alignment ofsaid plucking or strumming member with any one of said elements selectedfor playing.

12. The invention according to claim 1-0,, in which said actuator arm isprovided with a hub which is slidahly keyed to a rotatable shaft and inwhich a series or depressions is formed in said shaft corresponding innumber to the number of said elements, said hub carrying a spring-loadedplunger adapted to engage any one of said depress-ions with which it isbrought into alignment, and manually operable means engaging whereby an.operator may shift it in accordance with the musical element to beplayed.

13. In a musical: element of the character described, a Web having aplurality of radial tone arms formed integral therewith and extendingtherefrom, the outer extremities of said arms terminating on a circularline the center of which lies within the body of said web, the radialspacing of said arms being in accordance with the musical intervals of atune to be reproduced and the tonal lengths of said arms from said outerextremities to the bases thereof being varied in accordance with thesequential pitches of the notes in said-tune, the ends of said radialtone arms being adapted to -be sequentially plucked or strummedfby amember moving in a plane parallel to a plane cuttin the major axis ofsaid element.

IRVING STEIN.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,419 Wier Oct. 27, .1885424,293 Handel Mar. 25., 1890 1,575,032 Bendixon Mar. 2, 1926 PATENTSNumber 'Country Date v 60,412 Germany Jan. 13,1892

